Diamond Jubilee: Rain could force cancellation of RAF flypast planned as climax of weekend's celebrations

The Ministry of Defence said a decision will be taken tomorrow morning on whether the line-up of Second World War aircraft and fast jets can go ahead. Experts said that if visibility falls below three miles or if clouds descend below 1,500ft, the display will have to be abandoned, and forecasters said the conditions would be “on the edge” for safe flying. Yesterday a planned flypast of nine Naval helicopters flying in a diamond formation behind a Second World War Swordfish torpedo bomber was scrapped as torrential rain hit the Thames Diamond Jubilee Flotilla. The Met Office is forecasting rain over London for the time of tomorrow’s planned flypast at 3.30pm, which is due to feature the Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfires of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, followed by the Red Arrows. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The decision will be taken tomorrow on whether it can go ahead.